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Czechoslovakia 1938
Created by anna jordan on September 10, 2009, 12:43 pm. Report this group | FAQ
Categorized under: World War II, Teaching Resources - Schools
After Germany's Anschluss with Austria in March 1938, Hitler turned his sights on Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia had been created from the remnants of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War I. Many Germans lived within its boundaries, in the area known as the Sudetenland and Hitler sought to bring this area into the Reich. The Czech government, led by Benes, was understandably nervous and sought support from Britain and France. However, Britain and France continued to over-estimate Hitler's military capability, in reality far inferior to even their depleted resources. Thus they sought to avoid military conflict, despite the fact that Hitler's European expansion was in contravention of the 1919 Peace Treaties that, as members of the League of Nations, they had sworn to uphold. On 15 September 1938 Chamberlain and Hitler met at Berchtesgaden. Hitler demanded the surrender of those areas of the Sudetenland that had voted to unite with Germany. Hitler claimed that agreement to this demand would secure the safety of the rest of Czechoslovakia. Benes recognised that this initial request masked a more aggressive expansionist policy, but was powerless without the support of Britain and France. Chamberlain's agreement signified the surrender of Czechoslovakian interests to Hitler. On 22-23 September at a second meeting with Chamberlain at Bad Godesberg, Hitler increased his demands, insisting on an immediate surrender of the entire Sudetenland. Chamberlain again agreed. These two meetings were the precursors of the infamous 'Peace of Paper', the Munich Pact of 29 September 1938 which, without consulting Czechoslovakia, surrendered the Sudetenland entirely to Hitler. This left Czechoslovakia vulnerable, as its principal border defences were situated in the Sudetenland. It was therefore an easy matter for Hitler to annex remaining Czech territory in March 1939.
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Wonderful visit David Low (1891-1963)Evening Standard | "He only wants to lie down with your lamb" David Low (1891-1963)Evening Standard | "Mein Kampf" David Low (1891-1963)Evening Standard | No caption David Low (1891-1963)Evening Standard |
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What, no chair for me? David Low (1891-1963)Evening Standard | No caption David Low (1891-1963)Evening Standard | What's Czechoslovakia to me, anyway? David Low (1891-1963)Evening Standard | "Do your stuff, boys - same as in Austria" David Low (1891-1963)Ken |
